Methods and apparatus for processing reclaimed tire tread strips

Abstract

This invention provides patterned tread strips of uniform shape and dimension from salvaged tire carcass tread strips adapted for producing products requiring stacked layers of tread strips. Novel methods of and apparatus for shaping the tread strips in one embodiment results in trimming edges of substantially rectangular shaped tread strips salvaged from tire carcasses having two shorter ends and two longer sides to produce precisely uniform width between the longer sides. Thus the longitudinal tread strips may be passed from one end longitudinally through a power actuated strip feeder which establishes slicing means operable at designated spacings near opposite edges of the tread strips to cut away edges and produce uniform longitudinal strip widths between said two shorter ends as the strips pass through the strip feeder. Other shaping embodiments of the invention include tread surface shavers for producing strips of precise thickness, and length cutters to provide specified lengths. Apertures and indentations are introduced in the tread strips and strip rubber and fabric is relieved of inherent tensions and compressions by means of laser treatment in other embodiments of the invention, thus providing a set of tools for a system of comprehensively shaping tread strips at serial processing stations located along a transit path.

1 . The method of processing substantially rectangular shaped tread strips salvaged from tire carcasses having two shorter ends and two longer sides to obtain patterned strips of precise dimension and shape comprising in combination the steps of: 
 passing the strips from one end longitudinally through a power actuated strip feeder, and    shaping the strips along their length during the transit of the strips through the strip feeder.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the more detailed shaping step of slicing off edge portions of the strips to obtain a strip of precision width during transport of the tread strips though the strip feeder.  
     
     
         3 . The method defined in  claim 1  comprising the more detailed shaping step of introducing a set of longitudinally spaced patterns along opposite strip longitudinal edges.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said patterns comprise indentations in a surface of the tread strip opposite to the tread.  
     
     
         5 . The method defined in  claim 1  comprising the more detailed shaping step of punching apertures through the tread strip.  
     
     
         6 . The method defined in  claim 1  comprising the more detailed shaping step of cutting at least one end of the tread strip to define a tread strip of precision length.  
     
     
         7 . The method defined in  claim 1  comprising the more detailed shaping step of shaving the tread surface of the tread strip to establish tread strips of uniform thickness.  
     
     
         8 . The method defined in  claim 1  comprising the more detailed shaping step of shaping the tread strips in different ways at two sequential stations along the strip transit path.  
     
     
         9 . The method defined in  claim 8  further including the step of synchronizing the timing of the shaping step procedures at the two sequential stations to precisely locate the respective shaping procedures at the two stations at designated regions along the length of the tread strips.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for processing substantially rectangular shaped tread strips salvaged from tire carcasses having two shorter ends and two longer sides to obtain patterned strips of precise dimension and shape comprising in combination: power actuated strip feeder means for grasping one shorter end of the tread strips and passing them through a linear transit path, and strip shaping means along the length thereof operable during the transit of the strips through said linear transit path.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising means for providing tread strips of uniform width from tread strips for producing precisely dimensioned products with stacked layers of tread strips having slicing means operable at designated spacings near opposite edges of raw input tread strips to cut away edges and produce uniform longitudinal strip widths between said two shorter ends as the strips pass through the strip feeder.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus defined in  claim 10  wherein the strip shaping means comprises two sequential shaping devices for shaping the tread strips in different ways at two sequential stations along the strip transit path.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus defined in  claim 12  further including timing means for synchronizing the timing of the shaping step procedures at the two sequential stations to precisely locate the respective shaping procedures at the two stations at designated regions along the length of the tread strips.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein the shaping means comprises indentation means for introducing a set of longitudinally spaced indentation patterns extending along the length of the strips and disposed along opposite strip longitudinal edges.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said indentation patterns comprise indentations in a surface of the tread strip opposite to the tread.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus in  claim 10  wherein the shaping means comprises punching means for punching apertures through the tread strip.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus defined in  claim 10  wherein the shaping means comprises cutting means for laterally cutting at least one end of the tread strip to define a tread strip of precision length.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus defined in  claim 10  wherein the shaping means comprises means for removing tread surface from the tread strip to establish tread strips of uniform thickness.